6-Man Top 6: Wade Rush

In early January, Kansas Pregame contacted 6-Man football coaches in an effort to name a first ever Top 6 team of seniors in Kansas. The results are in and here are the Top 6 players in Kansas as voted on by the coaches. 

This is the fifth of six individual player profiles highlighting the Top 6 selections released in no particular order:

Wade Rush, RB/LB/K, 6-0, 205, Golden Plains, Sr.

Golden Plains senior Wade Rush spent his high school football career showcasing his versatility, to the point in which his talents on the field may be best summarized by L.V. Miles when touting his nephew Boobie in the 2004 film “Friday Night Lights”: “He can play left, he can play right, don't make no difference. He can block, tackle, score the touchdown, snap the ball, and kick the extra point. Hell, the boy will fill up the Gatorade cooler, walk the dog, and paint your back porch. I'm telling you, the boy can plain-out play football.”

While we’ll make an assumption on his willingness to fill the cooler, walk the dog and paint the porch, Rush completed all the other tasks on the list, and at a high level. His diverse skill-set made him an invaluable player who was plugged into a number of situations for the Bulldogs.

“Wade was a four-year starter on both sides of the ball for us,” head coach Travis Smith said. “While he was a three-year starter at center on offense, he was needed in the backfield for us this year. He took snaps, played fullback, and was split out from time to time. His reliability was where he made the biggest impact on this team.”

Add a little moxie to go along with his football skills, and at crucial times coach Smith looked to Rush for key contributions.

“He could always be counted on to come up with a big play whenever we needed it. Whether it was making a big interception in our second game against Weskan to cinch the game for us, or making a catch and pitch on a hook and ladder for a touchdown in our first-round playoff win against Ashland, Wade could always be counted on to deliver in crunch time. Wade always had a positive outlook during the game, and the other players on our team naturally gravitated to him because of his leadership.”

The 6-0, 205 pound senior lived up to his last name during the 2020 season. After making the move to running back he rushed for 403 yards and 12 touchdowns on 63 carries in eight games. He also caught 16 passes for 162 yards and five touchdowns and was 8 for 17 passing for 166 yards with four more touchdowns.

Rush’s defensive contributions were likely even more important to the Bulldogs’ success last fall.. During his senior season he recorded 95 tackles, recovered five fumbles, and intercepted two passes. 

But perhaps his biggest impact last season was his kicking ability and its impact on field position.

“Where most teams onside kick in 6-Man because it is so tough to cover the open field, we were able to kick the ball in the endzone,” Smith said. “This allowed us to flip field position more often than not.”

On more than one occasion, his kicking played a direct hand in deciding games. 

“Starting on the opponents 15-yard line is much better than giving the other team the ball near midfield because of on-siding the ball,” Smith said. “Games against Northern Valley and Cunningham were won in large part from Wade's ability to kick the ball into the endzone, giving teams a longer field to drive on offense.”

Rush also tacked on 15 extra point kicks, which in 6-Man count for two instead of one, making them twice as valuable.

Golden Plains closed out the 2020 season with a 5-3 record and third place finish in the 6-Man state rankings after winning the Wild West Bowl consolation game against Cunningham 58-31. Two of their three losses came at the hands of eventual state champions, Cheylin.

Rush was awarded a place on the first ever Kansas Pregame 6-Man Top 6 list, as well as spots on the Kpreps.com All-State team as a linebacker - for the third consecutive year - and kicker. He will also get an opportunity to reunite with coach Smith one last time in the 6-Man All Star game.

“Not only is Wade a great football player, but he is an even better young man,” Smith said. “His leadership is going to be missed. Wade has been a mainstay for us on both sides of the ball for the past four years and is going to be hard to replace. He, Rojelio (Loya), and this senior class is the only graduating Golden Plains class to qualify for the playoffs and win a playoff game in four straight seasons. This is something that they can always be proud of.”